I am not buying one today but thinking about remote HF ops and how my jumper batteries have worked out and … well then I think, what about a cheap generator?
There are others as well. I only run 100 WATT tops when playing HF. I do not contest really nor do I rag chew for hours. I do make contacts and babble a bit. I do send mail and play digital. All work fine with the batteries but I am always cognizant of their limits. With fall here, maybe a generator would make that more fun. Maybe it would make it less fun.
I do not need to run a refrigerator or air-conditioner. Just the radio, some changers, and a a few lights maybe.

I don't know anything about Porta-Source, so I can't give you any input. I can tell you that for our Field Day operations and remote location power needs, I have been thoroughly impressed with the Honda Generators that we have been using for many years. Yes, they are more expensive, but from a performance and reliability standpoint, they have earned 5 stars from all of us who have owned them and used them. (The Power Source price tag is appealing though and the 4.6 customer rating looks good)

If you get it, let us know how it works!

DaveK
K6DTK

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

The Honda generators are awesome! I know folks love them. But, they are pricey for this purpose for me. They cost more than my radio! Ha!
I do not know if I am going to buy this one (or any one). But, I am thinking about it . . . early Christmas gift to me! Maybe. And then a really, really long extension cord so I can put it far away and hopefully not hear it (much).

You should be careful using inexpensive generators with sensitive electronic equipment. One issue is noise. Inexpensive generators usually do not have the protected circuitry to reduce / eliminate line noise, which can create havoc for two-way radio equipment. In addition, the circuitry may not do as good a job at providing stabilized output voltage. This can damage sensitive / expensive electronics internally, and ham radio equipment is especially prone to problems from voltage fluctuations. This particular model lists a maximum output of 5.8 amps @ 120 volts AC, which is 696 watts - not quite the 800 watts output it is listed as providing (and only 54 watts at 12 volts DC).

A high quality generator will provide you with reliable power in the event of an emergency, as well as being useful for portable radio events - so it might be worthwhile to save up for a Honda generator, which you will likely keep around for a long, long, time

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear really bright, until they start talking

The deal isn’t to save up or not (what you think I am too poor for Honda? ).

I know people love the Hondas. They are great! However, I am not comparing this to that really . . . mostly looking at if this or another inexpensive solution would work.

For Emergency use, I do not worry much. Being without electricity is the last of my worries there really. I do not think gasoline for it will be easy to get in a big event.

Though you make good points about need for stable output for radio, you do not present any data to show that this product does not supply stable output. I cannot find information where Hams are using one (beyond an Amazon Review that didn’t mention how well it worked in that capacity). It is the next ‘version’ of the Earthquake 800 and I can’t find a lot of hams using that either.

It is an inverter style generator, which should give clean AC. I can plug in an Astron P/S that would then take the hit for the radio should anything go boom . . . (maybe . . .probably).

The 800W is the max surge, 700w the limit for normal operation (page 11 of the manual) so the 696w is rounded (similarly a Honda 1000 is 1000w max surge, but 900w at 7.5a is that for which it is rated) .

The DC output is really for changing things (just as is the Honda 1000’s DC output).

So, yes, I know it is not a Honda or a Yamaha . . . but I wonder if it is good enough for limited use for a ham station . . . plus it needs to be well under 15 inches tall for me (to fit under the truck’s roll up bed cover) and this one is 14 (Honda 1000 is just shy of 15 and the 2000 16.75) .

Well, I got one. It starts fine and I have done that a few times without issue. It runs lights and radio stuff fine. I does not make much audible noise at all.

It does make for some hash on 40m and 20m that transmits down the extension cord. It shows up regardless of if the radio is running on the generator or batteries or house power. The cord is an antenna for the inverter RF noise. Reading I hear the this is an issue for some Hondas as well.

I am going to put a conditioner/choke on the generator end on Monday and see if that helps.

I plan on having my station up Saturday night in camp (a ways outside Barstow) with light ablaze! I will be on 20 and 40. It should be fun.

Have not had the truck out since Spring so it will be good to shake it up a bit!

If you are speaking of Saturday the 10th, that will be the weekend of Borrego Fest. Let me know what frequencies you will be operating on and we will send out some calls. And, if I have Airmail up and you can receive regular mail messages, I will send some and maybe a picture or two.

DaveK
K6DTK

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.
Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

I am usually right around 7.200 plus or minus. I often hunt around for an empty place though. On 40 there is sometimes a ‘certain element’ that when I encounter them, I dial way far away. I have not been a 20 meter guy long, but 14.190 is where I have had some minor success. So I will hang on those a bit, turn the dipole northish/southish and look for you.

I kind of hunt around though. I am really sill testing and working on things to get my station to work out and about as I would like for it to be. The goal will eventually to get it all set up in a box I will make to where I can just set it on the tailgate, set up the power and antenna, and be good to go.

I will check my email as well, and send a pic as well, (if I get it all to work).

Fun!!!!

Last edited by DennisDawg on Tue Oct 06, 2015 9:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

Well, I put the line conditioner (TrippLite 1200) and the RF noise seems gone on all but 40 meters where it is much less but still annoying (to me). It could be more of an issue because I am testing in my garage with the hamstick dipole antennas on a poll off the front of the truck and the PowerSource never more than maybe 15 feet away. That is not at all ideal.

So, it is all packed up along with a plethora of antenna choices, and I will set up something in camp Saturday night and test there. Then the generator will be about 100 feet away with the TrippLite. I will also have the ole’ battery system as a backup so I will be on the air . . . I hope.

Anyway, getting closer to making it work . . . if nothing else it make for bright lights!!! Look for my glow!!! Ha ha!